Marked for El Sayed Osama
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market17 Jul 2028
Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Ittihad waiting with a shirt. Nobody at Zamalek is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.
Market17 Jul 2028
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Zamalek can pretend not to have heard.
Market17 Jul 2028
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Transfer targets17 Jul 2028
Zamalek asked and Ismaily said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
Transfer targets17 Jul 2028
Zamalek offered $120.0K; Wadi Degla said it was not close. The manager will be told the money is still there for the right player, which is what managers are told.
Squad17 Jul 2028
A row about effort at Zamalek
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Adam Kaied was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Squad17 Jul 2028
A falling-out at Zamalek
Moustafa Zeidan and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Market17 Jul 2028
The interest is real enough to have reached print. Zamalek have said nothing, which in a transfer window is its own kind of answer.
Squad17 Jul 2028
“Some mornings you wake up and you are still a long way from everything you know.” It is not the football and it never was; Zamalek are dealing with a man who wants a different country.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market26 Jun 2028
“I listened, I thought about it, and I am staying. That is the whole story.” The clubs had agreed a fee. Ahmed Fatouh had not agreed to go, which turned out to be the part that mattered.
Market26 Jun 2028
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Zamalek can pretend not to have heard.
Market26 Jun 2028
The last thing about a transfer that is still about the player is his signature on his own terms, and it is there. Zamalek have lost him in all but the paperwork.
The dugout26 Jun 2028
Ahmed Khaled: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Zamalek have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Market26 Jun 2028
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Zamalek is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad26 Jun 2028
A falling-out at Zamalek
Lucas Bruera and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad26 Jun 2028
A row about effort at Zamalek
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Adam Kaied was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout26 Jun 2028
Adam Kaied gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Adam Kaied is on it.
The dugout26 Jun 2028
Clubs make promises constantly and the page usually only hears about them when they are broken. This one was honoured, and the dressing room noticed that faster than any supporter did.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match12 Jun 2028
Zamalek up to position 2
76 points on the board and a place in the leading group. Nobody at the ground is saying the word out loud yet.
Market12 Jun 2028
Zamalek say no — this time
The offer from MC Alger for Ahmed Fatouh was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Market12 Jun 2028
The clubs have settled the fee and he has settled his wages. What remains is a medical and a photograph, and around Zamalek people have started saying his name in the past tense.
Market12 Jun 2028
“I listened, I thought about it, and I am staying. That is the whole story.” The clubs had agreed a fee. Omar Abdelaziz had not agreed to go, which turned out to be the part that mattered.
Market12 Jun 2028
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Zamalek, and it is not being withdrawn.
Squad12 Jun 2028
Achraf Dari was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad12 Jun 2028
A row about effort at Zamalek
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Ilias Boumassaoudi was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout12 Jun 2028
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Abdallah Tarek is on it.
The dugout12 Jun 2028
Akim Zedadka asks for a word with the manager
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Match11 Mar 2028
3‑0, and Oday Dabbagh took the headlines on an afternoon when everything Zamalek tried came off. Days like this are retold all winter.
Player ratings13 Mar 2028
2 goals, and the second was the one that settled it. Marked 8.85, and he could have had a third with better luck at the near post.
Market13 Mar 2028
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Zamalek, and it is not being withdrawn.
Market13 Mar 2028
Only the photograph left for Ahmed Sherif
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Ahmed Sherif will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around Zamalek the goodbyes have quietly begun.
The dugout13 Mar 2028
“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Zamalek may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.
The dugout13 Mar 2028
This is not rotation. Mohamed Shehata has not been in the manager's plans for some time, and nobody at Zamalek is pretending otherwise.
Squad13 Mar 2028
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Ahmed Khaled and Zamalek agree another 4 years.
Squad13 Mar 2028
Lucas Bruera in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Zamalek this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad13 Mar 2028
A row about effort at Zamalek
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Adam Kaied was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match27 Nov 2027
Still nobody has beaten Zamalek
The unbeaten run reaches 15. Some of them were wins and some were escapes, but a side that refuses to lose is a side other dressing rooms talk about.
The dugout29 Nov 2027
El Sayed Osama: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Zamalek have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Player ratings29 Nov 2027
Successful dribbles: 25. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
Market29 Nov 2027
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Zamalek is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad29 Nov 2027
Words exchanged at Zamalek
Abdallah Aboutrika and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad29 Nov 2027
Words at Zamalek training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Adam Kaied is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Loan watch29 Nov 2027
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Zamalek, and 7 appearances in 21 say he has earned the hearing.
Player ratings29 Nov 2027
Some games turn on a moment; this one turned on a man. 7.71 on the card, and the Zamalek support went home talking about one name.
The dugout29 Nov 2027
Omar Gaber gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Market23 Aug 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Zamalek, and it is not being withdrawn.
Market23 Aug 2027
Zamalek say no — this time
The offer from Nürnberg for Abdallah Aboutrika was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Market23 Aug 2027
“It was not right for me. I am not going to explain why to anybody except the people I owe an explanation to.” A deal agreed between two clubs, and a player who declined to be part of it.
The dugout23 Aug 2027
Mohamed Hamad: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Zamalek have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Market23 Aug 2027
Hussein Mido has one foot out of the door
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Zamalek they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad23 Aug 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Zamalek this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Match21 Aug 2027
The run at home goes on for Zamalek
9 matches unbeaten here. Every visiting manager is asked about it in the week before, which is precisely why it keeps going.
Match21 Aug 2027
Three points for Zamalek, 3‑1 the final word against Wadi Degla in a contest settled by the finer margins.
Squad23 Aug 2027
Words at Zamalek training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Ilias Boumassaoudi is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market16 Aug 2027
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Zamalek can pretend not to have heard.
Market16 Aug 2027
The clubs have settled the fee and he has settled his wages. What remains is a medical and a photograph, and around Zamalek people have started saying his name in the past tense.
Market16 Aug 2027
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Boardroom16 Aug 2027
A new deal for the man in the dugout, and the clearest thing a board can say without calling a press conference about it. Stability is cheap to promise and expensive to deliver.
Squad16 Aug 2027
Abdallah Aboutrika was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Boardroom16 Aug 2027
Graduation day at Zamalek
5 boys move up, and somewhere in the building the people who coached them at twelve are quietly having the best morning of their working year. Nothing about this shows up in a result and it is why the academy exists.
Squad16 Aug 2027
A row about effort at Zamalek
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Adam Kaied was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Market16 Aug 2027
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. El Sayed Mohsen is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Squad16 Aug 2027
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Ahmed El Armouty and Zamalek agree another 3 years.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market9 Aug 2027
Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Military Production waiting with a shirt. Nobody at Zamalek is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.
Squad9 Aug 2027
Words exchanged at Zamalek
Abdallah Aboutrika and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad9 Aug 2027
“The easiest signature of my career.” Jemerson and Zamalek agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad9 Aug 2027
A row about effort at Zamalek
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Adam Kaied was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Market9 Aug 2027
The phone has started ringing about El Sayed Osama again, and this time the name on the line is Ittihad. Zamalek are listening politely and promising nothing.
Loan watch9 Aug 2027
“I did not go to ASO Chlef to sit and watch. I want to come back to Zamalek and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 5 matches say the rest.
Market9 Aug 2027
El Dakhleya are about to pick up the phone
A conversation is coming this week. Zamalek will put a number on him, and from there it stops being football and becomes arithmetic.
The dugout9 Aug 2027
Mahmoud El Wensh is still being punished for one mistake
Nobody will confirm it and the team sheets confirm it every week. One error has bought him a spell as second choice that is already longer than the error deserved.
The dugout9 Aug 2027
The manager makes an example of Omar Abdelaziz
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.